Today we’d like to introduce you to Diana Ries.
Diana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Divine Concepts Counseling Inc. was founded in 2014 by Diana Ries, a licensed mental health counselor with over two decades of experience in healthcare as a paramedic, emergency room nurse, and cardiac nurse. After years of witnessing how unaddressed emotional pain often manifests as physical illness, Diana was inspired to dedicate her career to helping people achieve emotional and mental wellness through compassionate, evidence-based counseling.
Over time, she recognized a growing need in the community: too many individuals were unable to access quality mental health care due to financial barriers. In response, she established Divine Concepts Freedom Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, in 2024. The mission of Divine Concepts Freedom is to make professional counseling and emotional wellness programs affordable and accessible to everyone, regardless of their economic situation.
Today, both organizations work hand-in-hand to provide individual counseling, support groups, and therapeutic workshops designed to help people process emotions, overcome shame, build resilience, and improve relationships.
What began as one counselor’s commitment to making mental health care more compassionate and accessible has grown into a community initiative focused on breaking the stigma of mental health and empowering individuals to find healing, balance, and freedom.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most meaningful missions, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. Building Divine Concepts Counseling Inc. and later Divine Concepts Freedom Inc. came with its share of challenges.
Early on, the biggest struggle was meeting the overwhelming need for affordable mental health care while maintaining the quality and integrity of services. Many people reached out for help but couldn’t afford ongoing therapy, which was heartbreaking and motivating at the same time. This challenge ultimately became the driving force behind starting the nonprofit, so that financial limitations would never stand between someone and their healing.
Another ongoing challenge has been awareness and funding. Like many nonprofits, balancing outreach, sustainability, and direct client care requires creativity and persistence. Launching new programs, recruiting qualified counselors, and expanding workshops all take resources that often exceed the available budget.
Still, each obstacle has reinforced our purpose. Every challenge has led to greater innovation, stronger community partnerships, and deeper compassion for the people we serve. We’ve learned that true growth often happens in the struggle, both for our clients and for us as an organization.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m Diana Ries. I’m a licensed mental health counselor, and I’ve spent over 20 years in healthcare, working as a paramedic, in emergency rooms, and as a cardiac nurse. Those years taught me a lot about the ways emotional and mental struggles show up physically, and it inspired me to dedicate my life to helping people heal at a deeper level.
In 2014, I started Divine Concepts Counseling Inc. to provide compassionate, evidence-based therapy for individuals and couples dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, toxic shame, and challenges in their relationships. I wanted to create a space where people could feel truly seen, understood, and supported while learning the tools to grow and change their lives.
A few years later, I realized that so many people who needed help couldn’t afford it. That’s why I founded Divine Concepts Freedom Inc. in 2024, a nonprofit designed to make mental health care and workshops accessible and affordable to everyone. Through these programs, including Shame Recovery and Embrace & Evolve, OvercomingAnxiety and How to have healthy relationships programs I get to see people step into freedom from shame, fear, and emotional pain, and it’s incredibly rewarding.
What I’m most proud of is helping people reclaim their lives, strengthen their relationships, and rebuild trust in themselves. My goal has always been simple: to combine professional expertise with compassion, creating a safe space where healing and growth can truly happen.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is seeing people find freedom, that moment when someone realizes they’re not broken, just healing, and that they’re capable of so much more than they believed. Watching people reconnect with themselves, their purpose, and their peace is what fills me up.
I also find happiness in simple, meaningful moments, spending time with my family and grandchildren, laughing with friends, and being surrounded by people who value growth and authenticity. Even quiet time with my dog, Chica, brings me joy.
Helping others heal brings me happiness because I’ve seen how transformative it can be when someone finally lets go of shame and steps into who they’re meant to be. There’s nothing more fulfilling than watching that spark come back into someone’s eyes when hope returns.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.divineconcepts.net
